Clearer arrangement



' Filed Nov. 20, 1961 y 64 R. B. NEWTON 3,132,385

CLEARER ARRANGEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. RUSSELL 3. NEWTON ATTORNEY May 12, 1964 R. B. NEWTON CLEARER ARRANGEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 20, 1961 INVENTOR. RUSSELL B.NEWTQN ATTORNEY FIG-5- United States Patent 3,132,385 CLEARER ARRANGEMENT Russell E. Newton, Spartanburg, S.C., assignor to Deering Millilren Research Corporation, Spartanhurg, S.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 153,567 21 Claims. (Cl. 19-245) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial Number 48,145, filed August 8, 1960, now abandoned.

This invention relates to an improved clearer arrangement, and more particularly to an improved clearer for apron type drafting systems.

In drafting systems employing apron systems, such as the Oasablancas system, Saco-Lowell Roth and Duo-Roth systems, etc., it is quite difficult to keep the apron supporting rolls and the zone within the apron clean and free of lint. In these systems there is provided an apron in the form of an endless belt which is carried on at least one roll and an apron tensor element in the form of a nose bar, such systems often including a pair of apron arrangements, one above the other, which engage the roving or the like betw en their interfacing surfaces. It is particularly important to prevent the accumulation of lint on the inner surface of the aprons or on the apron supporting rolls, for any accumulation will tend to alter the drafting action, as well as tending to cause the occurrence of ends down.

It is accordingly a major feature of this invention to provide a clearer arrangement which will tend to keep the apron supporting roll free of any substantial accumulation of lint.

A further aspect of the invention lies in the provision of an arrangement for cleaning and preventing accumulation of lint or the like on-the inner surface of the apron and the zone within the apron in an apron type drafting system.

Still another feature is the provision of an improved apron guiding arrangement which also aids in keeping clean the apron and the roll on which the apron rides.

Still other features and attendant advantages will become apparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of several embodiments constructed according to my invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic illustration in section of the invention as applied to a Casablancas type apron drafting system.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the invention as applied according to the embodiment of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view in perspective of the clearer block of FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURES 4-6 are top front, bottom front, and rear views in perspective of a modified clearer block which may be employed similarly to that in the arrangement of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a modified arrangement illustrating apron-and-roll-clearing aspect of the invention as applied to a Roth type apron drafting system.

FIGURE 8 is a schematic view in perspective of the clearer block employed in the arrangement in FIGURE 7.

Referring now to the figures of the drawing, in FIG- URE 'l the invention is illustrated as applied to a Casablancas type apron drafting system including conventional back, middle and front roll pairs, 10a, 10b, 12a, 12b, 14a and 14b arranged in the usual manner, the top and bottom rolls 12a and 12b of the middle pair each having a tensor element in the form of a nose bar 16a, 16b spaced therefrom and an endless apron 18a, 18b mounted in surrounding relation about the respective roll 12a, 12b and nose bar 16a, 16b.

Patented May 12, 1964 In the embodiment of FIGURE 1 a clearer and guiding device 2% in the form of a unitary block of suitable material is formed as shown in FIGURES 2-4 with a concave rear surface 22 having a radius of curvature preferably substantially corresponding to the radius of the upper roll 12a against which it snugly fits. Particularly suitable materials for the block 20 include Delrin (an acetal resin), Micarta, Bakelite, and Teflon (a polyfluorocarbon solid), although other materials such as nylon, wood, etc., may be used in some instances, it being desirable to employ -a material, or to add a surface coating effect to the material, giving a relatively low 00- efiicient of friction between the clearer surface and the apron interior and roll periphery. For example, a coating of wax on the apron-engaging surfaces of the block 20 may be used, if desired, in order to facilitate smooth movement of the apron thereover, although this has not been found necessary in many successful embodiments made of various materials, such as Micarta, Bakelite and Delrin. The clearer block 20 is laterally maintained in position by the conventional cage or cradle side plates 17a of the supporting cradle 17, and is supported in floating relation within the cage side plates 17a by engagement with the nose bar 15a and roll 12a. The clearer block 20 should be at least as wide as the apron 18a in order to effectively carry out its functions, and in those instances where the apron is less wide than the distance between the side plates 17a of the cradle 17 it is advantageous in some cases to extend the width of the clearer block to correspond to a light slip fit between the side guard plates 17.2, as shown. In those instances Where the apron extends to the side guard plates 17a, the clearer block should of course have a substantially equal width for a light slip fit between the plates 17a.

Block 20 has a notch 29a formed in the end opposite the concave groove 22 for supported engagement with the nose bar tensor element 16a. This notch 20a may be, and is preferably, flared and oversize in order to enable ease of insertion within and removal from the apron and between the roll 12a and nose bar 16a, as well as compensating for tolerance variations in the size and spacing of and between roll 1 2a and nose bar 16a. The block 20 may be said to be floating or in floating supported relation between and within the area encompassed by roll 12a, tensor bar 16a and apron 18a. However, the block 20 floats between the roll, tensor bar and apron preferably within substantially small limits of movement, and for all practical intents and purposes the block 20 may be said to be substantially stationary in the preferred embodiment. The block 20 may be inserted and removed by raising the roll 12a and apron 18a while the apron is about the nose bar 16a.

The upper or leading front edge 2% of the clearer block may be formed with an abrupt or a rounded configuration, being preferably slightly rounded to prevent undue apron wearing action, this edge surface together with the upper surface 20d serving to rub or scrape foreign material such as lint, etc., from the inner periphery of the apron 18a which may enter or be present between the nose bar and the block, thereby tending to prevent passage of such foreign material to the roll 12a for accumulation thereon. Likewise, the lower apronguiding-and-rubbing surface 200 and the lower or leading edge of the concave rear surface 22, may rub or scrape from the surface of roll 12a and apron 18a any foreign material such as lint, etc., which may tend to become trapped between roll 12a and apron 1811. If either of the edges 2% or 2212 is made sharp or abrupt, such edge should of course not be of sufiicient sharpness or extend at such an angle as to cut or injure the apron 13a.

The clearer block 24 is shaped preferably to fill substantially all of the normal unfilled opening within the 9 J apron loop between the nose bar 16a and the roll 12a, to thereby tend to keep out lint and other foreign material from the surrounding atmosphere.

Further, it is an important advantage and feature of the invention to have the bottom surface 20c of the apronguiding and apron-and-roll-clearing block 20 contact the apron 18:: along the lower run thereof between roll 12:: and the nose bar tensor element 16a, in order to prevent or materially reduce gapping or buckling of the interfacing surfaces of aprons 18a and 13b and thereby give improved control of the fibers as they pass between the aprons. To this end the bottom surface 20c of the clearing and guiding element 20 is preferably slightly convex, although it may be straight if desired, and bears lightly against the apron along a substantial portion of the apron lower run, this being the fiber-engaging run of the apron 180. It is necessary however that the clearing and guiding element and its surface 20c not be of such size as to retard to any material degree the apron travel or cause pinching of the fiber material passing between the aprons 18a, 18b.

In the modified clearer embodiment of FIGURES 4-6, which is particularly adapted for environmental conditions where excessive lint fly, etc., is encountered, the clearing and guiding block 120 (which is mounted in the same manner as the embodiment of FIGURES 1-3) is provided on the upper and lower apron contact surfaces with one or more plow shaped cam surfaces 124, in the form of either grooves or ridges, which by engagement with the inner surface of moving apron the will tend to remove any lint thereon and cause it to move laterally outwardly from within the loop and toward one or the other of the sides of the apron.

In addition, in order to remove lint which may adhere to the roll 12a the concave surface 122 has formed thereon one or more plow cams in the form of chevron or plow grooves or ridges 126 which work in substantially the same manner as the plow cam surfaces 124 to remove the lint from the roll surface and move it laterally outwardly from within the apron loop area. The plow action of this clearer block 120 with its plow shaped cam surfaces 124 and 126 in opposition to the movement of the roll 12 and inner surface of the apron 18a tends to remove any lint that has adhered to the peripheral surface of roll 12a and/or the inner surface of apron 18a.

A similar apron-guiding and roll-and-apron-clearing device may be mounted within the lower apron 1812 according to my invention, particularly to obtain cleaner operation of the lower apron and associated roll and better control of the fibers passing between the two interfacing fiber control runs of the two aprons.

The invention is illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8 as generally applied to the Saco-Lowell Roth system. In this arrangement a clearer block 220 is arranged for continuous engagement with the conventional idler tensor roll 232 for clearing this roll and the adjacent portion of the apron 218 as it passes into engagement therewith. The clearer block 220 may have a straight or plow shaped apronclearing leading edge 220a, as desired, and a straight or plow shaped roll-clearing edge 222a on the concave surface 222 thereof. This clearer block 220 may be removably mounted as with a leaf spring bracket 238 secured thereto as by a force fit in a slot therein and engaging the nose bar 216, or otherwise as may be desired. Alternatively, the clearer device 220, 238, may be formed so as to extend between nose bar 216 and the rear or diagonally opposite lower intersection between apron 218 and roll 232.

While the invention has been illustrated as applied to three physical embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited by the particular A illustrative embodiments described herein, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. For use in an apron control textile drafting system, an apron-guiding and roll-and-apron clearing device comprising a member formed with a concave roll-engaging clearing surface, two generally oppositely extending outwardly facing apron-guiding-and-clearing surfaces, said apron-guiding-and-clearing surfaces connecting with opposite ends of said concave surface and converging in a direction extending away from said concave surface to aid in guiding an apron in a converging path to a nose zonc spaced from said concave surface.

2. An apron-guiding and roll-and-apron-clearing device according to claim 1 wherein one of said apron-guidingand-clearing surfaces has a generally convex curvature.

3. An apron-guiding and roll-and-apron-clearing device according to claim 1 wherein said member has an open notch formed at and between the converging ends of said two converging surfaces for engagement with a nose bar tensor element.

4. An apron-guiding and roll-and-apron-clearing device according to claim 3 wherein said notch is flared to permit ease of angular movement about a nose bar as during insertion and removal within an apron.

5. In a textile drafting apparatus having a continuous belt drafting apron and a supporting roll and tensor element, the improvement comprising a non-rotatable clearer member disposed within said apron and engaging with the peripheral surface of said roll, and with said apron and tensor element, said clearer member extending along substantially the entire effective apron-engaging length of said roll periphery and having a clearing surface engaging said roll and a clearing surface engaging said apron.

6. The improvement according to claim 5 wherein said clearer member has a generally concave shaped surface adjacent said roll and fits in close substantially contiguous relation with said roll.

7. In a textile drafting apparatus having a continuous belt drafting apron and a supporting roll and tensor element, the improvement comprising a substantially stationary clearer member disposed within said apron and engaging with the peripheral surface of said roll, said clearer member extendin along substantially the entire effective apron-engaging length of said roll periphery and having a clearing surface engaging said roll, and on which clearing surface engaging said roll is a plow-shaped formation for laterally outward carnming movement of lint toward an end of said roll.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said clearer member has on a surface thereof engaging with the inner surface of said apron and on which clearer member surface is a plow-shaped formation for laterally outward camming movement of lint toward a lateral edge of said apron.

9. In a textile drafting apparatus having a continuous belt drafting apron and a supporting roll and tensor element, the improvement comprising a substantially stationary clearer member disposed within said apron and engaging with the peripheral surface of said roll, said clearer member extending along substantially the entire effective apron-engaging length of said roll periphery and having a clearing surface engaging said roll, said clearer member having a plow-shaped apron-engaging surface.

10. In a textile drafting apparatus having a continuous belt drafting apron with a fiber-control run and a supporting roll, the improvement comprising a non-rotatable apron-guiding and clearer member disposed within said apron and engaging with the peripheral surface of said roll, for aid in preventing entry and accumulation of foreign material on the apron-carrying peripheral surface of said roll, said clearer member extending along substantially the entire effective apron-carrying length of said roll periphery and engaging the inner surface of said fiber control run of said apron in apron-guiding-and-rubbing relation for guiding said apron run and removing lint or the like deposited on said apron as it passes.

11. Apparatus according to claim wherein said clearer member also has an edge surface engaging the peripheral surface of said roll in foreign-material-removal relation.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10 including a second apron disposed in engagement with the lower run of said first mentioned apron and wherein said clearer is a block occupying substantially the entire space between two opposite runs of said first mentioned apron, said clearer block having a convex curvature engaging with a major portion of said fiber control run of said first mentioned apron in order to guide said first mentioned apron and aid in preventing undue gapping between said first apron and said second apron.

13. In a textile drafting apparatus having a continuous belt drafting apron with a fiber-engaging-and-controlling run and a rotatable roll disposed internally of said apron and in rolling engagement therewith, the improvement comprising a non-rotatable clearing-and-apron-guiding member disposed within said apron and in clearing engagement with substantially the entire apron-carrying length of the peripheral surface of said roll and the inner surface of said apron, said clearing-and-apron guiding member having an apron-guiding surface disposed adjacent said roll and in guiding relation with said fiber-engaging-and-controlling run of said apron.

14. In a textile drafting apparatus having a continuous belt drafting apron and a rotatable roll disposed internally of said apron and in rolling engagement therewith, the improvement comprising a non-rotatable clearer member disposed within said apron and in clearing engagement with both the peripheral surface of said roll and the inner surface of said apron, a nose bar in supporting engagement with said apron, said clearer member being disposed within said belt apron and in supported engagement with both said nose bar and said roll.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said clearer member occupies substantially the entire remaining space within said apron and between said roll and said nose bar as a preventive to the entry of lint into the zone within said belt apron.

16. For use in a textile drafting apparatus having a continuous belt drafting apron and a rotatable roll disposed internally of said apron and in rolling engagement therewith, the improvement comprising a non-rotatable clearer member disposed within said apron and in clearing engagement with both the peripheral surface of said roil and the inner surface of said apron, said apparatus including a tensor element disposed in engaging relation within said apron and spaced from said roll, said clearer member being in engagement with said'apron, roll and tensor element.

17. In a textile drafting apparatus having a continuous belt drafting apron and a rotatable roll disposed internally of said apron and in rolling engagement therewith, the improvement comprising a non-rotatable clearer member disposed within said apron and in clearingtengagement with both the peripheral surface of said roll and the inner surface of said apron, a tensor element spaced from said roll and in engagement with the inner surface of said apron, said clearer member being disposed within said apron and engageable with each of said tensor element, roll and apron and inguiding relation with a fiber-control run of said apron.

18. In a textile drafting apparatus having a continuous belt drafting apron and a rotatable roll disposed internally of said apron and in rolling engagement with, the improvement comprising a non-rotatable clearer member disposed within said apron and in clearing engagement with both the entire apron-carrying length of the peripheral surface of said roll and the inner surface of said apron.

19. In a textile drafting apparatus having a continuous belt drafting apron and a rotatable roll disposed internally of said apron and in rolling engagement therewith, the improvement comprising a non-rotatable clearer member disposed within said apron and in clearing engagement with both the peripheral surface of said roll and the inner surface of said apron, said apparatus including a tensor element in supporting engagement with said apron, said clearer member being disposed within said apron and in engagement with said tensor element and said roll.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said clearer member includes an apron-guiding surface disposed in engagement with the inner surface of said apron along a fiber-control apron run between said roll and said tensor element.

21. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said clearer member includes an apron-guiding surface disposed in engagement with said apron along a fiber-control apron run adjacent said roll.

No references cited. 

1. FOR USE IN AN APRON CONTROL TEXTILE DRAFTING SYSTEM, AN APRON-GUIDING AND ROLL-AND-APRON CLEARING DEVICE COMPRISING A MEMBER FORMED WITH A CONCAVE ROLL-ENGAGING CLEARING SURFACE, TWO GENERALLY OPPOSITELY EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FACING APRON-GUIDING-AND-CLEARING SURFACES, SAID APRON-GUIDING-AND-CLEARING SURFACES CONNECTING WITH OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID CONCAVE SURFACE AND CONVERGING IN A DIRECTION EXTENDING AWAY FROM SAID CONCAVE SURFACE TO AID IN GUIDING AN APRON IN A CONVERGING PATH TO A NOSE ZONE SPACED FROM SAID CONCAVE SURFACE. 